Support



SUPPORT H. STEVENS.

Filed May" 4, 1940 Sept. 9, 1941.

INVENTOR. HOY STEVE/v6 Q ATTORNEY?! Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STAT raraur OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to supports and refers more particularly to a book rack, book holder or display easel of simple design.

One of the objects of my invention is to construct a support of the above named character which, due to its simplicity of construction, is inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object resides in providing a portable article support which is compact and collapsible and which can be adjusted to support objects at selected inclinations.

A further object of the invention is to construct a portable book rack having a sturdy back portion and a frame preferably formed of Wire and carried by the back member in such a manner that the back and frame members can be so relatively positioned that the back may be inclined at selected angles to the frame or both members may be nested one within the other when the device is not intended to be in use.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an article support made in accordance with my invention and illustrates the same in use for supporting an open book;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device when adjusted as an easel for the purpose of supporting a display;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows the device collapsed or folded when the same is not in use;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a detail view showing a means of limiting movement of the back rest.

In carrying out my invention I have provided an extremely simple construction which not only is convertible to be used for several purposes, but which is compact, light, and quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device comprises essentially two elements: a back rest and a frame or supporting member, so constructed and associated together that the novel objects and purposes of my invention are readily accomplished,

The back rest is indicated at I and preferably comprises a rigid piece of fibre board, metal, or other material of sufficient size, shape and stiffness for the purposes intended. This back rest I is perforated at 2, and eyelets 3 or other reinforcement may be secured in the openings to provide a suitable finish and to prevent undue wear on the walls of the openings 2.

The frame or support for the back rest may be formed of a length of stiff wire operating through the openings 2 and bent to form a pair of substantially parallel base members 4 and 5, an intermediate connecting guard member 6 and a pair of fingers 1 and 8 projecting toward each other and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the guard B.

The guard member 6 is formed by bending the wire upwardly at the respective ends of the base members as at 9 so that the portion 6 will be elevated slightly with respect to the base members.

In forming the fingers I and 8 the respective base members 4 and 5 are bent near their other ends as shown, that is, the wire is bent upwardly slightly at H), then inwardly and upwardly at H and I2 respectively. The fingers 1 and 8 project horizontally toward each other in substantial alignment and terminate in downwardly projecting short ends l3.

In use, the device made in accordance with my invention is simple and easy to operate. In the folded or carrying position, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the back rest nests neatly within the wire frame and in order to retain the parts in folded position against accidental displacement, the fingers 'I and 8 are toed inwardly slightly so that in folding they tend to snap over the adjacent edge of the back rest as at Hi.

When the device is used as an open book rest, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the back rest I is slid along the base members 4 and 5 toward the fingers 1 and 8 and then tilted as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

It will be noted that the walls of openings 2 in the lower end of the back rest I engage the upwardly inclined sections [0 of the wire frame and thereby permit the back rest to assume an angle of about 50 to the horizontal. This is an ideal inclination for reading.

It will be noted that the fingers l and 8 also serve to hold the cover of an open book in open position and at the same time permit freedom in turning the individual pages as desired.

When the back rest I is slipped along the base members 4 and 5 to the position shown in Fig-' ures 3 and '4, the back rest I assumes a greater angle (about 70) to the horizontal. This position aifords an ideal angle for display purposes. The guard member 6 serves to hold the display I5 in proper position close to the back rest I.

When a book is placed on the support in a position similar to the display [5 as shown in Figure 3, the guard member 6 will also serve to hold the pages and cover of the open book in such position. 7

After the back rest I and wire frame or support are assembled, the metal of the frame may be upset as an alternative method as at "5 near the fingers I and 8 to limit the forward movement of the back rest 1.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the? ing members at one end thereof, and a pair of inwardly and oppositely projecting stops or fingers formed at the-other terminal of each supporting member for yieldable engagement with an edge of a back rest, and an inclined back rest slidably carried on said supporting members.

2. In an article support a base formed of a length of stiff wire or the like bent to form a pair of supporting members, a guard for one end of said base formed between said supporting members at one end thereof, and a pair of inwardly projecting stops or fingers formed at the other terminal of each supporting member, and an inclined back rest slidably carried on said supporting members, said base and back rest being foldable for nesting one within the other when 7 the device is not in use.

3. In an article support a base formed of a length of stiff wire or the like bent to form a pair of supporting members, a guard for one end of said base formed between said supporting members at one end thereof, and a pair of inwardly projecting stops or fingers formed at the other terminal of each supporting member, and an inclined back rest slidably carried on said supporting members, said base and back rest being foldable for nesting one within the other when the device is not in use, said stops or fingers having engagement under tension with a side of the back rest when the said parts are nested. V

- HOY STEVENS. 

